Donald Edward Maney

Donald Edward Maney, 85, of Asheville, died on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at his residence. Mr. Maney was a son of the late Hughie L. and Annie S. Maney. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Gilbert (Jo) and Forrest. He was a graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School, and played football with the late Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving with the 82nd Airborne Signal Core in Gliders from February, 1943 to November, 1945. While in the 82nd Airborne during WWII, he saw action in Germany, France, and England. Mr. Maney then worked for Southern Railways for 3 years until 1948, when he joined the Asheville Police Department. He held the following positions during his tenure with the Department: Patrolman, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, and he retired in 1979 as a Captain. Mr. Maney enjoyed some retirement time, before taking care of his loving wife. He was also a former Jaycee, Optimist, a member of the Shrine Club, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Nickels-West Asheville Masonic Lodge 650, 32° Mason, Oasis Temple of the Shrine, and of West Asheville Baptist Church. He will be remembered as a loving husband of wife Doris Kirkpatrick Maney for 66 years; caring dad of Gary (Martha) and Susan Andrew (Dewey); grandaddy to Greg Warren (Debbie), Karen Davidson (John Cravener); great-grandaddy to Grant and Drew Warren, Brooke Davidson, and Caitlyn Cravener; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Jim Devaney; and brothers, Conrad (Phyllis), Carlton (Evelyn) and Howard (Emelie). Step-family members include Scott and Daphene Andrew and family, and Stacy and Joe Arch and family. A funeral service for Mr. Maney will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. with the Rev. Stan Welch officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery with Masonic rites performed by the Nickels-West Asheville Masonic Lodge 650. Serving as pallbearers will be members of the Asheville Police Department Honor Guard. Honorary pallbearers are his lifetime friends, Wade Hall and Van Smith. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The family would like to thank the great employees at the Huddle House on Hendersonville Rd. for always being kind to their Dad, and to Carolyn, Clara, Nancy, and Gloria for being there for him and Doris. People really make a difference in one's life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of Mr. Maney to the Eblen Foundation to help people in Asheville and Buncombe Co.: Eblen Foundation, 12 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806.